Speed change gear



v R. ERBAN A SPEED CHANGE GEA? vMay 24, v19372,

Filed June 2O.v A192m 4 Sheets-Sheet l l l M Y nw mii /1 /k M 5 A E $1@ Y 4 M =======l|1 Ll. i0/

-lNvEN 0R v am gev/142m4 ATToRNEY y May 24, 1932.

R. ERBANA SPEED CHANGE GEAR Filed June 2o. 192s 4 Sheets-Sheet L ATTORNEY May 24,1932. R. ERB/AN v1,859,592'

SPEED CHANGE, GEAR I Filed June 2o. 1928 4 sheets-sheet 5 7/ 62 70 8f 15 A6594?? @6 A 6.5

L ATTORNEY May 24, 1932. R. ERBAN` SPEED CHANGE GEAR Filed June'zo.' 1928 4 sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Y ,Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD ERBAN, 0F VIENNA, AUSTRIA SPEED CHANGE GEAR Application led .Tune 20,

My invention relates to speed-change gears and more particularly to speed-change gears, in which the gear ratio between the driving and the driven member can be continually varied above and below 1: 1.

It has already been proposed to provide special couplings between the driving and the driven shaft to be operated when the gear ratiol is 1: 1 to permit the load to be transmitted direct from one shaft to the other with the speed-change gear in neutral so as to prevent losses andwear of the gear while the 1:1 ratio is maintained. Such an arrangement is of special advantage for gears used on motor cars, because it has been found that in the average the 1:1 ratio is more than 90% of the total running-time of the car.

All the devices, howeverl1eretofore proposed have the great drawback that the principle of continually varying the speed is omitted therefrom. Where special clutches are used for a direct coupling between thel driving and the driven shaft, the powertransmission through the gear must first be cut out so that the operation of a direct-drive coupling demands on the part of the driver almost the same skill as the shifting of the `present-day standard gear, which becomes even `more apparent in the case of changing from high speed to lower speedsas when ascending an up-grade with a car that can' ratio, is automatically changed, depending on the engine torque which is applied. lWith the control lever fixed in a position corre-l sponding to a speed of 0.8 to 0.65 of the engine speed (which corresponds to second 1928. serial No. 286,909. I d of a three-speed standard gear-box) the gear will remain in direct drive as long as the engine torque does not exceed 20%-30% of its maximum power. Increasing the engine torque will automatically make the gear run with. a reduced speed corresponding to the above -mentioned position of y they control lever.

These various improvements lI obtain by mounting all the elements of the gear which exert a reaction torque on the gear casing loosely and rotatable on a common axis and connecting themtogether to form one group. I also provide brake-means to prevent said reaction group from rotating or` to permit it to freely rotate, when the ratio is 1: 1'. In

that case the'freaction torque ofthe group (which is lthe algebraic'sum of the reaction torques of the single elements) will bezero,

and consequently, the group will rotate with the two shafts at the same speed as that of these shafts as soon as the brake is released. And if the brake is operated by the reaction torque, it will be seen that the brake willbe automatically released when said reaction torque becomes zero. p

` In the annexed drawings in which I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through anA embodiment of my invention permitting a gradual variation of the speed of the driven shaft from 1:1forward drive to 1:5 reverse. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the brakedrum of the reactionv group. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1 showing a 35 i modification in the arrangement of the connections of the various elements. Fig. 4 is another modification, .being a longitudinalV sect-ion througha gear permitting variation of the` speed from 1: 1 to about 1: 5 only for 90 the forward drive and beinglprovided with a separate reverse arrangement. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through another modified gear permitting variation of the Speed from 1:1 to about 1:4`forward. Figs. 6 95 and 7are sectional views .of the brake for the reaction group. Figs. 8 and 9 finally are similar views as Figs. 6 and 7 showing an automatically applied brake means.

The various gears shown in the drawings .1

- keyed thereto the automatic pressure-device prise balls,

. being secured against lbe no less than 4 are intended for use on motor cars, but obviously these gears can also be used in other cases where the 1: 1 ratio predominates.

.In Fig. 1,-1 is the driving shaft (engineshaft) and 2 the driven shaft,'which rela.- tion, of course, may be reversed. For instance, if a motor-car, on va down-grade, operates the engine, 2 becomes the driving shaft and 1 the driven shaft.

The speedchange gear comprises three sets of planetary gears, to wit, two planetary gears shown at 4, 5, 8 and 10, 11, 12 having a xed gear ratio and one planetary gear shown at 16, y ratio. vThe fixed planetary gears each com- 4 and 10 respectively, which roll on an inner race-ring 8 and 11 respectively andan outer race-ring 5 and 1 2 respectively. At 3 and 9 respectively are shown the cages for the two fixed planetary gears.

The variable gear comprises a plurality of rollers 18' in Contact with the two race-rings shown Cat 16 'and 17 and capable of adjustment relative thereto. They are journalled by means of ball-bearings 20 on the axes19 of yokes and are guided on guide-members 21, as more vfully described and shown in my copendi'ng application, Ser. No. 243,746 filed Dec. 30, 1927. The yokes of all the rollers'are enclosed in a common cage 24 provided with a cylindrical extension 24', and they are simultaneously adjusted by the reciprocation of a bushing 23 on said cylindrical extension which bushing is operatively connected with the yokes by links 22. The bushing is operated by a forked lever shown at 34. By means of a ange 24" on the end of the cylindrical extension 24.-', the cage 24 is secured t"a'lange 31 formed on the driven shaft 2, while by means of its hub 25 the cage 24 is rotatably mounted on an intermediate shaft shown at 6 in Fig. 1. Y

To said intermediate shaft 6 is keyed the outer race-ring 5 of the first planetary gear axial'displacement on said shaft. At its other end, shaft 6 hasv 27, 28 which by a clamping screw 30 is secured against axial displacement. The pressure device comprises balls confined between substantially flat inclined surfaces and operates as described in my Patent No. 1,585,140. For the dimensions as shown in the drawings corresponding to a proportion of 1': 2 the natural size of a 25-30 h. p. gear, the angle which the inclined surfaces form with a plane perpendicular to the gear axis should and no more than 8. Inclined surfaces having an angle within these limits will provide a slipless transmission of power by the gear, if the radius of the crosssection profile of the rollers 18 at that` part v which makes contact With the race-rings 16 or 17 is not more than 80% of the radius of the roller itself, vand preferably about 65%,

17, 18 having a variable gear either side by 'ing'to the 1: 1 gear ratio provided that at the same time the spring 29 furnishes an initialpressure which is sufficient to prevent therollers from losing contact with the race-rings, due to vibrations produced by the driving motor. All the other elements of the gear are loosely and rotatably mounted on shaft` 6 and are connected with each other in the following manner.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the inner racering 8 of the first planetary gear is keyed to cage 9 of the second planetary gear, which cage carries, or is formed with, a brake drum indicated at reaction group. The -inner race-ring 11 of the second planetary gear is secured to cage 3 of the first planetary' gear which cage 1nv turn is secured` to the cylindrical shaft 7 formi-ng part of the driving shaft 1. Between the two race-rings 8 and 11 is lprovided the thrust bearing 15. The outer racerng 12 of the second planetary gear is secured to, or formed'integrally with, the racering 16 of the variable gear which ring is rotatable on shaft 6. The other race-ring, 17, of the Avariable gear is rotatably connected with shaft 6 by means of pressure-balls 26 held between inclinedV faces. v

Around the above said brake-drum 49 passes a brake-band 13 provided with a brake lining indicated at 14, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. As shown in said figure, the brakeband 13 is secured at one end'to a bolt 76 in the casing, while at the other end the brakeband can be tightened around the-drum by means of a lever 44. A spring 47 located in a hood 46 and bearing against a sliding elelnent 45 presses down on lever 44 thus holding the brake-band 13 tightened. Lever 44,

11o iFig. 1 at 35. The latter can be i longitudinally shifted by an arm 41 engaging with its ball-shaped end 40 afgrooved collar 39 secured to rod 35. At 42 is shown an abutment on rod 35, against which abutment bears the hub 38 of the forked lever 34 bein pressed against said abutment by a spring 37 encircling rod 35 between said hub and the grooved collar 39. Therefore, if the'rod is shifted toward the left in Fig. 1, into the position shown in broken lines, a cam face 43 provided at the forward end of the rod will raise the lever 44 against the action of the spring 47 releasing the brake. As spring 37 is compressed by the shifting of the rod 35 just described, he latter will automatically j return to its full-line position, correspondl between, the driving and the driven shaft. The entire gear is enclosed in the casing 32 provided with the f action group and, therefore, the cage 9 and speed of the centers of the rollers and of the',`

-ctary gear rotates With the driving shaft 1` element.

the inner race-ring 8 are at rest, Whereas cage 3 rotates with the engine shaft, 1. e., the

Adriving shaft 1 vcompelling the outer racering 5 to run at a higher speed than that of the driving shaft. If the 'parts are proportioned as shown in Fig. 1, race-ring 5 will run at a'speed about 1.7 times that of the engine speed, and all the parts connected with ring 5 will rotate at the same speed, to wit. shaft 6, the pressuredevice 26. 27, 28, 29, 30 and race-ring 17 of the variablegear.

The inner race-ring 11 of the second plan.

but as Ycage 9 is at rest, the balls 10 revolve in loco,.and the outer race-ring 12 rotates in opposite direction at reduced 'speed (with the proportions as shown at 0.7 of the speed of the driving shaft). Race-ring 16 which is connected or formed integral with the outer race-ring 12 rotates at the same speed, i. e.,.

at 0.7 of the speed of the driving shaft, also in opposite direction.

The rollers 18 of the variable gear revolve,

corresponding to the difference in the speeds at the points, where they contactl with the race-rings 16 and 17. In the position shown in Fig. 1', the centers of `rollers 18 and the cage 24 revolve vin the same direct'on at the speed of the driving shaft. If the rollers 18 are shifted to the other end position from that shown in Fi g. 1, the forward speed imparted to the rollers by the race-ring 17 1s reduced, while at the same time the backward speed Iimparted to the rollers by theracering 16 is increased with the result that the cage 24 drops, until the opposite speeds -imparted to the rollers by the two race-rings 16 and 17 are equal. At that moment, cage 24 and theA driven shaft 2 are at rest. When thereupon the rollers 18 are shifted still fur-. ther,the backward'speed imparted to the roll"- rrs will predominate, and theV centers of the rollers and cage 24 and thereby also the driven shaft will revolve in a direction opposite to that of the driving shaft.

In a similar manner as the speeds I1n the variable gear combine. the -forces ofreaction combine in the reaction group. The force of reaction of the inner race-ring-:S is in the direction of the driving shaft,h whereas the force of reaction of cage 9 is in the opposite direction since the outer ring-12 is the driving element and the inner ring 11 the driven When the rollers are in the 1:1 position, the two forces of reaction are equal.

However, if the rollers are shifted in a direction of reduced speed, their paths on the race-ring 16 becomes larger and on the racering 17' smaller. Therefore, the torque on the race-ring 16 becomes greater and on the race-ring 17 smaller (provided the torque of the driven shaft vis constant) and'therefore, in the reaction group the torque of-cage 9 preponderates opposite to the direction of rotation of the driving shaft. If the reaction group is not prevented from rotating in that direction, the gear does not transmit any force,- the driven shaft Will stop at the slightest resistance, and the brake of .the reaction group can then be also used as a coupling as shown in Fig. 2. From that figure it will appear that by lpressing down on pedal 129 one can, by means of the connecting rod 131 and lever 130, release the brake-band.

If in the 1: 1 position of rollers 18 the brake-band is released, only the frictional forces willact on the reaction group, since the forcesA of reaction are equal, `and these frictional'forces will set .the reaction group into motion in. the direction of rotation of the driving shaft. As soon as the reaction group hasreached thespeed of the driving shaft, thereis no ,longer any cause for the race-ring 5 to run at a higher speed than the driving shaft, and therefore, the race-rings 5 and 12 will have the speed of the driving l' shaft and will rotate in the same direction And aslikewise the race-rings 16 and 17 no longer rotate in opposite direction but rotate at the same speed in the same direction,

also the rollers 18 will no longer revolve about their axes 19, and only their centers and cage 24 willy continue to revolve with the speed of the driving shaft. In the entire elements relative toeach other, tho the power of the driving shaft 1` continues 'to' be transmitted tothe driven shaft through-the gear.` And as the entire gear revolves at an entity, there are no losses, there is no heating, and no Wear. There is also no interruption in the oWer transmission between the driving 'and the ,driven shaft, and neither in the varying ofq the gear, When the power is thus transmitted direct With the gear in neutral, i. e. the gear rotating as a unit. From this it W1ll be clear that also'the change lfrom direct drive to any other speed can be effected Without any difficulty in the following man- If arm 41 is moved from its 1: 1 end-position toward lower speeds, then at first the spring 47 is permitted to tighten the brakeband 13 thereby closing the brake. -The reaction group is thereby stopped, the race-rings l6 a nd 17 rotate in the opposite direction, .and the rollers 18 revolve about their axes Without anyimmediate change in the gear ratio. Only, When by a further movement of arm 41 the rollers by means of the forked lelver 34, the bushing 23 and links 22 are .moved from their 1 1- position to another position, the gear ratio is correspondingly varied.

The gear could also be used to obtain'higher gear there is no longe-r any movement of the 'lia ` axis,

Aai

yover zero to about gear ratios than 1:1, 'that is to rotate the driven shaft at'fa higher speed than the driving shaft. To this end, 'it is only necessary to move the rollers 18 from their 1: 1 position so far that their paths on the race-ring 17 become greater than correspondedto the 1:1 position. In that case, the reaction force of the drum 49 becomes negative, that is to say, it 'is-in the same`sdirection as the direction of rotation of the driving shaft..

In Fig. is shown a different arrangement of three planetaryggears lon, a common but the range of variations is the same as that of the above described construction. If the proportions are assumedto be those shown' on the drawings, driven shaft can be varied from direct drive 1/5 reverse of the speed of the driving shaft.

At its forward end, the driving shaft 1 carries the pressure-device 50, 51, 52 which is longitudinally adjustable by means of the screw 72. For purposes'of simplicity 1n the illustration, no springs for effecting an inltial pressure are shown. The pressure-ring 52 is secured to the outer race-ring 53 but is freely rotatable on shaft 1 and capable of longitudinal displacement thereon. V4At its other end, shaft 1 has keyed thereto `and secured against longitudinal movement by the collar'67 the outer race-ring 66 of the ballplanetary gear 63,64, 65, 66. The two race rings and 57 andthe-cage 59 of the variable gearv are rotatably mounted on shaft 1 and capable of longitudinal displacement thereon. The race-ring 55 `is secured to', or integrally 'formed' with, the inner race-ring 54 of the ball-planetary gear '53, 54', 54. The

`cage 73 of this gear is secured to, or formed integral with, the cage 59 which, at its forward vend is rotatably journalled by means of the disk on shaft 1 or the pressure-ring 50. The race-ring 57 is keyed to the cage 64 by means of the key 61 and together with said cage can freely rotate on shaft 1. The race-ring 57 means of the thrust-bearing 62 to the outer race-ring'63, and the driven shaft 2 is securely connected to said race-ring by means of the hollow extension 68. At its forward end. shaft 1 is journalled direct in the casing of the gear, whereas at its rear end at 7 4, it is journalled in a bore of shaft 2. The adjustment of the rollers` 56 which are rotatably journalled on the fected by the slidesbushing 71 by' means of the pivoted links 70. The bushing 71 is displaced in a similar manner as shown'in Fig. 1 bymeans of an arm (not shown) engaging a grooved ring portion 71 formed on bush' 59 and 73 which consti. tute the reaction group are actedupon by the g ing 71.` The cages brakefband indicated at 13 encircling the brake-drum indicated at 14. The operation is as followsi transmits the axial pressure by aXes of the yokes 58 is ef 55 is compelled to rotateopposite to the direction of rotation of the driving shaft 1. Consequently, the rollers 56 impart to the race-ring 57 a rotation in the same direction I as the shaft 1, the speed of rotation depending on the position-of the rollers. The inner race-ring 66 rotates with the speed of the driving shaft and if the cage 64 by the racering 57 is likewise rotated with the speed of the driving shaft, also the outer race-ring 63 must rotate withthat speed. The thrustbearing 62 then is at rest.

If the planetary gear 53, 54, 54 is built like a normal thrust-bearing, the rollers 56 must be moved to a horizontal posit-ion, that is to say, their axes of rotation must be perpendicular to the axis of the gear, in order that the race-ring 57 will rotate with the speed of the driving shaft and the gear-ratio of 1: 1 is' obtained. It is clear that in that case the forces of reaction, which, on the one hand, are exerted by the balls 54 on cage 73 in the direction of rotation of the driving shaft, and, on thel other hand, by the rollers 56 on the cage 59 opposite to thatdirection, are equal and thus outwardly balance the frictional .forces which cause its rotation together Withthe shaft. To the same extent, the race-ring 55 reduces its speed of rotation in the opposite direction and also commences to rotate together with shaft 1, until finally cage 59 and race-ring 55 have the same speed as the drivingshaft. The speed of race-ring 57 lwhich already rotated with the speed of the driving shaft, is in no way aected so that the driven fshaft will rotate with the ratio 1:1 as before. After the reaction group including the cage 59 and race-ring -55 have reached the speed of the engine shaft, the entire gear rotates as a whole constituting a rigid couplingjbetween the shafts 1 and 2. The brake-band 13 in the case of the 1: 1 gear ratio can be released in the same manner as described in connection with the construction shown in Flg. 1.

The position of driven shaft 2. toward a horizontal position. the speed of the driven shaftV is first reduced until it reaches O, and then is gradually increased to the speed of the driving. shaft rotating in the same direction. When the rollers 56 are shifted to beyond the horizontal position, the driven shaft will rotate faster than the driving shaft` and the reaction force of the roup 59-73 becomes negative.

only two planetary gears for forward drive, one having a fixedand the other a variable the rollers 56 shown in Fig. 3 corresponds' to the reverse drive of the When the rollers are shifted g In the modification of Fig. 4 are shown gear ratio. The control of the speed is from l: 1 to 1: 5 as the lowest speed. The rollers 78 are shown in Fig. 4 in the position corresponding to the lowest speed. A stopping of the driven shaft 2 can be effected only by a release of the brake acting on the reaction group. For backward drive there is provided a reverse stage, enabling the variation of the speed during backward drive within the same limits as for the forward drive. As regards the operation of the forward drive, therefore, and the direct drive, the backward drive need not be considered. The race- Aring 77 is rotated by the driving shaft 1 by means ofthe pressure device 50, 51 in the same direction and at the same speed as the driving shaft. When the brake 13, 14 is in (in-position and therefore the interconnected cages 81 and 83v which constitute the reaction group are at rest, the race-ring 79 must rotate opposite to the direction of rotation of driving shaft '1, its speed of'rotation being dependent on the position of the rollers 78. The planetary gear 79, 84, 85 having a fixed gear ratio, thedirection of rotation of the inner race-ring is changed and consequently, the outer race-ring 85 must rotate in the direction of the driving shaft. In the planetary gear 79, 84, 85 will occur a reduction in speed, so that the outer race-ring 85 rotates with the speed of the driving shaft only, if in the variable planetary -gear 77, 78, 7 9 a similar increase in speed takes place. This will happen if the rollers 78 rotate y in the'plane indicated in Fig. 4 by the broken lines. For the forward drive, the race-ring 85 is rigidly connected with the cylindrical extension 91 0f the driven shaft 2 as hereafter described. The axial pressureof the race-ring 85 is transmitted by the balls 86 to the race-ring 88 which in the manner hereafter described is rigidly connected with the cylindrical extension 91 of the driven shaft 2. The race-ring 88, in its'turn, transmits the pressure by means of the pressure bear, ing 90-89 and the set-screw 97 to the driving shaft 1. The said pressure bearing rotates with the difference in the number of revolutions of the driving and the driven shaft. l'Vhen the rollers 78 occupy a position corresponding to the 1:1 ratio, the reaction forces on the cages 81 and 83 balance each other, in a similar manner as shown in connection with the-construction shown in Fig. 3. The release of the brake in this case also results in the reaction group being subject only to the frictional forces so that said group rotates with the driving shaft 1. As soon as it has reached the speed of the driving shaft, there is no further relative movement of the parts of the gear, and consequently the gear acts'as a coupling between the two shafts 1 and f The driven shaft is directly connected with the race-ring 88, which is operatively connected'with the race-ring 85, as long as the` cage 87 of the pressure-.bearing 86 is rotatively connected with the race-ring 85. This is effected by the sliding member 92 which by means of the clutch-teeth 93 is permanently rotatively coupled with cage 87. The sliding member 92 is slidingly and rotatably mounted on the cylindrical extension 91 of the Y ring 88 and also the shaft 2 will be at rest.

This corresponds to the free run position. If the sliding member 92 is still further shifted toward the right inFig. 4, until the clutchteeth shownv at 95 engage corresponding teeth 96 on the casing V99, cage 87 is stopped and race-ring 88 is compelled to rotate in a direction opposite to that of ring 85, which corresponds to the backward drive.

Fig. 5 shows a combination of two planetary gears which permits a speedvariation including the gear ratio 1: 1, without any change in the direction of movement within the gear.

The driving shaft 1 carries a drum-shaped iywheel 104 which is secured by bolts `103 to a flange 102 formed at the end of the driving shaft 1 and moreover is secured to the cage 105, the hub 106 of which is loosely mounted on the intermediate shaft 101m.,

Within cage are rotatably journalled on pivots 107 the rollers 108. The outer racering 109 for these' .rollers is keyed to the intermediate shaft 10.1., while theinner racering 110 is loosely mounted on said shaft being capable of longitudinal dis lacement thereon and rigldly connecte or formed integrally, withthe race-ring 111 of the variable gear. The other ,race-ring, 112, of said variable gear is operatively connected by means of the pressure device 126, 127, 128 with the intermediate shaft 101. The cage 124 of the rollers 113 is secured to a fiange4 116 formed on the end of the driven shaft 2. 'Ulhe rollers 113 are rotatably mounted on the axes 114 of the adjustable yokes, and all the rollers can be simultaneously adjusted, in a similar manner as described in connection with Fig. 1, by means of pivoted links 115 through axial displacement of the sliding member 121. If the two race-rings 110 and by the brake 13, from rotating, the race-ring 109, the intermediate shaft 101 and thereby the race-ring 112 must rotate at a righer speed than the ldriving shaft 1, but .in the 111 forming the reaction group are prevented same direction; By the rollers'113, this speed is reduced depending on the position of said rollers. With the rollers occupying the position shown in Fig. 45, the ratio of.- 1 1 is obv group 110, 111" isreleased,

tained, if the diameters of the contacting circles at the points 110% 123 and at thepoints 109, 125 are the same.

he reaction group Ias well as intermediate s aft 101 together negative reaction force. The frictional to theidirection of rotation of the driving forces are also in the direction of rotation of the driving shaft and therefore, are likewise negative reaction forces. The torque in110 is smaller than the torque in 113 for all positions of the rollers which impart -to the shaft a rotation at a reduced speed. The reaction force of the groups 110, 111 therefore, is positive in these cases, that is, it is opposed shaft. The reaction force of the groupv 110, 111 on the brake is the sum of the said three torques and therefore zero, before the rollers arrive at the exact 1: lposition, which is the case the sooner, the greater the frictional force is.l If the frictional force equals 5% of the total torque of the driving shaft, the reaction force becomes zero already when the driven shaft 2 has a speed of only 0.95 of the driving shaft. If in that position the brake is released, rotation is transmitted at the ratio of' 1: 1., If the frictional force is maintained approimately constant, e. g., 5% of the maximum torque of the driving shaft, this means 20% at one-fourth of the capacity of the engine. Therefore, at one-fourth of the capacity of the engine, the reaction force becomes zero already when the driven shaft has a speed of only 0.8 of the" speed of they driving shaft, and when the brake 13, 14, is'

released, rotation is transmitted between the two shafts at the ratio of 1: 1.

If the brake acting on the reaction group is arranged as shown in Figs.`6 and 7, the reaction group is automatically released, as soon as the reaction force becomes zer`o or slightly negative, but the brake is automatically closed, when the reaction force becomes positive. For this purpose, one 'end of the brake-band 13 is connected to the bolt 132 of lever 134 andthe other end to the bolt 133. Lever 134 forms with the rod 135 a bell-crank lever and through said rod can be rotated and rockedin the circumferential direction of the brake-drum 83. When the latter rotatesin the direction of the arrow 138, the brake-band 13, 14 moves in the same direction,and bell-crank lever 134, 135 is rocked in the direction of arrow 150 resulting in a When the reaction! tightenin of the brake-band. The ma 135 freelyfsli esin a bore; of arotatable member 136. Itis clear that the reaction group, 81-

83 shown in Fig. 4, as regards allvpositive reaction forces (in the direction of arrow 138, Fig. '6) is automatically subjected to the action of the brake and prevented from rotating.' As sooneas -the direction lof rotation of the brake-drum is reversed, as. indicated by the' arrow 139 in Fig. 7 and the brake-band 13,

14 follows that movement, the bell-crank lelver 134, 135 is rrclred in the direction of the arrow 151, whereby the brake-band 13, 14

CII

iS` lengthened and the brake, therefore, -is

opened. The vrotatable guide member 137 for the rod 135 arrivesin the position as indicated in Fig. 7.

' i In'-Fig. 6is shown the cage 81 of Fig. y4

containing the rollers 7 8 mounted in the movable .yolres 58 inside elevation. The adjustv Figs. 8 and 9, wherethe two ends of tlie'brakef band each are provided with a jaw 140'" and '141 respectively, which by means of the joints 142 and 143 respectively and thetoggle-levers 144, 145 are connected with each other. On the central joint 146 of the toggle-lever is provided a roller 147, .which cooperates with the inclined faces 149, 150 of the abutment 148. When the brake-drum 83 rotates in either direction, for .eXample,in the direction of` the arrow 151, roller 147 is forced down by the inclined face 149 whereby thel toggle-lever is operated to tighten thel brake b'and (Fig. 8). If, onv the other hand, the

roller 147 is moved into the angle formed by the inclined faces 149, 150,' the toggle-,lever is straightened, resulting in the brake-band being released (Fig. 9). This can bev accomy plish-ed in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for the brake-lever 44. At 35 in Fig. 9 is indicated the slide-rod 35, also shown in Fig. 1, used for operating the toggle-lever.

The automatic brake actuating means shown in Figs. 6-9 can be used, of course, in

connection with any of the 'speed-change gears shown in Athe drawings.

I claim 1. In combination, a rotatable driving memi ber, a rotatable driven member, and a Variable speed friction gear connection between said members inluding race rings and cooperating rolling bodies movablewith respect to one another to establish ratios above and below one-to-one between said members, and

alll movable together as a unitvto establish a direct drive connection betweenvsaid members.

2. In combination, a rotatable. driving' member,a rotatable driven member, and a variable speed friction gear connection between said members`7 including cooperating parts movable with respect to one another to establish a one-to-one angular velocity ratio and ratios above and bel'w one-to-onc between said members, the'said cooperatingl parts of said gear being arranged to rotate as a unit with said driving and ldriven members when said parts are in a position establishing a one-to-one gear ratio between said members,

3. In combination, a rotatable driving member, a'rotatable driven member, and a variable speed friction gear connection between said members comprising a plurality of planetary gearsharranged for cooperation with one another to establish ratios above and below one-to-one between s aid members, and all movable together as a unit to establish a direct drive connection between said members.

4. In combination, a rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, and a variable speed'friction gear connection between said members comprising a plurality of cooperating planetary gears each inclusive ofa pair of rotatable race rings and rolling elements therebetween, the rolling elements of one of saidl gears being mounted for adjustment with respect to and to roll against and also to rotate with its related' race rings, thereby to establish a one-to-one angularvelocity ratio and ratios above and below oneto-one between said members.

5. In combination, a rotatable. driving member, a rotatable driven member, and a variable speed friction gear connection between said members comprising a plurality of cooperating planetary gears each inclusive of a pair of race rings .and rolling elements therebetween, the race rings of at least one of said gears being rotatable and the rolling elements of that gear being mounted for adjustment to shift their points of contact with said rings radially with respect to the latter, said last mentioned rolling elements also being mounted to roll against and to rotate with said race rings, thereby toestablish a one-to-one angular velocity ratio and ratios above and below one-to-one between said members.

6. In combination, a rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, and a variable speed friction gear connection between said members lcomprising a plurality of cooperating planetary gears each inclusive of a pair of rotatable race rings and rolling elements therebetween, the rolling elel ments of one of said gears being mounted for adjustment to shift their points of contact with their related race rings radially with respect to the latter and also to roll against -and to rotate with said race rings, and releasable brake means for cooperation with-one of said gears to hold one of the rotatable elements thereof against rotation.

'7. In combination, a rotatable 4driving member, a rotatable driven member, anda variable speed friction gear connection between said 'members comprising a plurality of cooperating planetary gears eachinclusive of a pair 'of rotatable race rings and rolling elements therebetween, the rolling elements -of one of said gears being mounted for adleasable brake means for cooperation with one of said gears to hold the rollingelements thereof against rotation with their related race rings. j

8. In combination, a rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member axially alined with said driving member, and a variable speed friction gear connection between said members comprising race rings and rolling bodies cooperating with one another to establish a one-to-one angular velocity gear ratio and ratios above and below one-t-o-one between said members, all of said race rings and rolling bodies being mounted for rotation on an axis coincident with the axes of said drivingahd driven members, and being adapted for unitary rotation to establish a. direct drive connection between said members.

member, a rotatable driven member, a variable speed friction gear connection between said members comprising a plurality of planetary gears arranged for cooperation with one another to establish a one-to-one angular velocity ratio and ratios above and below oneto-one between said members, each of said gears including a pair of race rings and rolling elements therebetween, the rolling elements of one of said gears being adjustableto shift their points of contact radially with respect to their related I race rings, and a torque responsive pressure device for urging one of the race rings of said last mentioned gear towards the other race ring of said gear.

l0. In combination, a rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, and a variable speed frictiongear connection between said members eliective to establish a one-to-one angular velocity ratio and ratios above and 'below one-to-one between saidpoints of contact with said rings radially withl respect to the latter, said rolling elements bef ing mounted to roll against and to rotate with said race rings, a planetary gear between one of said race rings and one of said members,

a connection between said rolling elements and the other' of said members', and a torque responsive pressure' device acting through A shift their points of contact with said `race, rings, simultaneously inward with respect to.

' race ring that is fixed to said third shaft and comprising a race ring with said driving shaft, a third shaft between and loose with respectto and axially alined with said driving and driven shafts, a pair of race rings rotatably mounted on said third shaft, rollers between said race rings, a cage fixed to said driven shaft and carrying said rollers, means for adjusting-'said rollers to shift their points of contact with said race rings simultaneously inward with respect to one ring and outward with respect to the other ring, a planetary gear connection between said driving shaft and one of said race rings, and a torque 'responsive pressure device acting directly against one of said race rings, and reacting through said third shaft and said planetarygear against the other of said race rings to urge thelatter against said rollers.

12. In combination, a rotatable driving shaft, a rotatablev driven shaft axially alined with said driving shaft, a third shaft between and loose-with respect to and axially alined with said drivingl and driven shafts, a pair of race rings rotatably mounted on said third shaft, rollers between said race rings, a cage fixed to said'driven shaft and carrying said rollers, means for adjusting lsaid rollers to one ring and outward with respect to the other'ring, a planetary gear connection between said driving sliaft and'one of said race rings, said planetary gear connection fixed to said third shaft, a combined race ring and roller carrier element loose on said third shaft, a combined race ring and roller carrier element fixed to said driving shaft, rollers carried by said last mentioned element and disposed between the the race ring of said first mentioned element, rollers carried by said first mentioned element and disposed between the race ring of said second mentioned element and one of the race ringsv of the pair first mentioned, a releasable 4brake device for holding said first mentioned element against rotation, and a torque responsive pressure device acting directly against the other of the pair of race rings first mentioned and indirectly through said third .shaft and said planetary gears against the first of said pair of race rings first mentioned to force said rings into frictional engagement with the adjustablerollers disposed therebetween.

13. In combination, a rotatable driving shaft, a rotatable driven shaft'axi ally alined with said driving shaft, a pair of race rings rotatably mountedon said driving shaft, rollers between said race rings, -a cage rotatably mounted on said driving shaft carrying said rollers. means,` for adjusting said rollers to shift their .points of Contact with said race rings simultaneously inward with respect to one ring and outward with respect to the other ring, pressure device between 'said driving shaft and one of said race rings, a brake for cooperation with said cage, ai race ring carried by said driven shaft, and a planetary gear V'comprising rolling elements carried byisaid cage and disposed between said last .mentioned race ring and the other of said pair of race rings first mentioned. ,Y

14. In combination, a rotatable driving shaft, a rotatable driven shaft axially alined with said driving shaft, a pair -of race rings rotatably mounted on said driving shaft, rollers between said yrace rings, a cagecarrying said rollers, means for adjusting said rollers to shift their points of contact with said raceI rings simultaneously inward with respect to one ring and outward 'withf respect to the other ring, a'brake forcooperation with said cage, a race ring fixed to said driv- 0 a torque responsive,

ing shaft, a race ring carried by saidk driv-v en shaft, rolling elements carried by one of said pair of race rings disposed between the race ring that 1s fixed to said driving is carried by said driven shaft, and a'torque responsive pressure ing shaft and the other of the pair of race rings first mentioned.` i

15. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a rotatable driven shaft axially alined with said driving shaft, a third shaft bedevice between said drivfirst mentioned and` shaft and the race ring that drivin tweenand axially alined`with said driving and said driven shafts, a pair of race rings rotatably mounted on said third shaft, roliers, between said race rings, a cage fixed to said driven shaft' andcairying said rollers, means for adjusting said rollers to shift their points of contact with said race rings simultaneously inward with respect to one ring and outward with respect to the other ring, a race rino fixed to said thirdshaft, a roller carrier fixed` to said driving shaft, rollers carried by said carrier and disposed between .the raceI ring that-is fixed to said third shaft. and one of said pair of race rings irst mentioned, a brake for cooperation with the latter race ring, and a torque respon sive 'pressure devicebetween said third shaft and the other `of said pair of race rings first mentioned. s 16. In combination, a rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, and a variable speed friction gear connection between said members comprising race r."ngs

tween said driving and driven members, said race rings bein mounted for rotation and said rolling bo 'es being mounted to rotate with said race rings to establish a direct drive connection between said members.

l17. In combination, a rotatable driving member, an axially alined rotatable driven member, a variable speed friction gear connection between said members includin race rings and cooperating rolling bodies a rotatable as a unit about an axis coincident with the axes of said driving and driven members to establish a direct drive connection between said members, and means whereby said race rings and rolling bodies are adapted for relative adjustment and relative rotation to establish angular velocity ratios above and below one-to-one between said driving and driven members.`

18. In combination, a rotatable driving member, an axially alined rotatable driven member, a variable speed friction gear connection between said members including race rings and cooperating rolling bodies disposed constantly in operative engagement with one another and all rotatable as annit about an axis coincident with the axes of said driving and driven members to establish a direct drive connection between said members, and means whereby said race rings and rolling bodies are adapted for relative adjustment and relative rotation to establish angular velocity ratios above and below oneo-one between said driving and driven memers.

In testimony whereof I aix msiiature.

v RICHARD R AN. 

